Make no mistake, bringing Hartline back is key for the Dolphins. As I wrote a couple weeks back, there are few things more disastrous than frequently changing the surroundings for a young, developing quarterback (just ask Mark Sanchez).

Hartline's chemistry with quarterback Ryan Tannehill was almost instantaneous. Hartline missed most of training camp with a leg injury, but the rapport was there right from the get-go, as Hartline caught one back-shoulder pass after another on his way to nine receptions for 111 yards against the Raiders.

Do those things make him worth what the Dolphins might pay for him, though?

According to news aggregatorRotoworld, Hartline was seeking a deal in line with the one given to wide receiver Laurent Robinson this past offseason:

Never mind that Robinson's contract was considered rich even at the time it was signed (or mind it, if you like).

Look at the numbers, and it's pretty clear Hartline should not be making as much as Robinson. Hartline had more receptions and yards, but Robinson caught a higher percentage of passes thrown his way for more yards per reception and had far more touchdowns on far fewer targets.

He should come down from his demands a bit, but he may not have to.

Either way, though, the Dolphins have the money to spend, so a little extra money to retain an important player may not be too much to ask. Even at $6 million per year, he'd still be making right around what Robert Meachem made to join the Chargers with worse numbers as a member of the Saints than Hartline had as a member of the Dolphins.

He'd still be making right in line with what Anquan Boldin makes as well.

Those names are certainly bigger, but their numbers certainly have not been.

Should the Dolphins bring back Hartline?

YesNoCost dependingSubmit Votevote to see results

Should the Dolphins bring back Hartline?

Yes

69.7%

No

2.6%

Cost depending

27.6%

Total votes: 1,517

Obviously, someone will be wrong and someone will be right. A middle ground between those two numbers ($6.5 million per year vs. $3.5 million per year) would put the deal at a very reasonable price, though: $5 million per year.

Hartline is not a game-breaker, but he's not a bad receiver. His biggest issue in 2012 was a lack of touchdowns, but was that Hartline's biggest issue or the Dolphins' biggest issue? Not only did the Dolphins lack a viable red-zone target, they also finished with the third-fewest passing touchdowns as a team in the NFL.